Letchworth State Park, New York

Letchworth State Park,
known as the "The Grand Canyon of the East", is in western New York, in
Wyoming county. This is a big park, open year round, with lots
of stuff to do, such as camping, hiking, horseback riding, balloon rides,
etc.. The park contains a 22 mile long segment
of the Genesee River. The cliffs of the Genesee River Gorge are 550
feet high in places.

For waterfall lovers, the highlight of the park are the three
waterfalls along the Genesee river. They are all within
a few miles of each other. The trail along the gorge's rim
leads to all three falls.

The park is quite civilized. You can find snacks, ice-cream,
and balloon rides.
You can also hike along the less crowded parts of the rim
trail for some lovely views. Trail #7 is particularly nice.

Inspiration Falls

There are numerous other minor waterfalls in Letchworth created
when creeks flowing into the Genessee fall off of the
gorge walls. Some of these are 300+ feet high, but many
are very seasonal.
Deh-ga-ya-soh Falls,
located between the Middle Falls and
Inspiration Point, is
the most dependable of these falls. It is over 150 feet high and
has a decent flow year round. To fully appreciate it you
have to see it from the east side of the gorge.
The 300' tall Inspiration Falls is also nearby, but rarely
has much water.
Inspiration Falls is the water stain seen on the cliffs in the above photos.

Deh-ga-ya-soh Falls up close

Deh-ga-ya-soh Falls from across the Gorge

Wolf Creek Falls is another waterfall that falls into the gorge.
It is a long cascade that must be over two hundred feet high, but
it is impossible to see all of it (or even much of it), except
possibly from the bottom of the gorge. Unfortunately, outside of
a raft trip, there is no access to the river here.

Wolf Creek Falls

Views from the Gorge Trail

Views from the Gorge Trail

The park is open in winter. Only the Castille entrance
remains open to cars. The park is popular with snowmobilers.

Behind the Glen Iris Inn is a manmade fountain.
The fountain is gravity fed.
The pressure of the water fed through the pipe creates the "geyser".
Every winter the spray freezes freezes forming
a fantastic ice column.

Jan 2003

Jan 2004

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